Sport

Uncapped prop gets Wales call

OSPREYS prop Aaron Jarvis is the only uncapped player named in a 35-man squad for Wales' autumn Tests against Argentina, Samoa, New Zealand and Australia next month.

Caretaker coach Rob Howley, in charge while Warren Gatland prepares to head up the 2013 British and Irish Lions tour of Australia, has named six players who were not involved in the summer tour Down Under, including fit-again Cardiff Blues centre Jamie Roberts.

Scarlets pair Rob McCusker and Tavis Knoyle also return to the fold alongside Ospreys fly-half Dan Biggar, who had an outstanding game in yesterday's Heineken Cup clash at Leicester but, as expected, there is no recall for London Welsh fly-half Gavin Henson.

Howley said: "We are really pleased with the strength and depth of the squad, with some pleasing individual performances over the last three or four weeks.

"But we all understand and realise the skill, physicality and intensity will go up over the next five weeks.

"This is one of the reasons we are going back to our training camp in Poland to sharpen minds and bodies.

"Argentina are first up, and after the experience they have gained in the Rugby Championship they will be a challenging and tough opponent, but this is a challenge we will look forward to.

"We know how important momentum is going into any series, and the bigger picture is the Rugby World Cup draw at the beginning of December, and how we perform against the Pumas, Samoa, the All Blacks and the Wallabies will have a direct effect on our seeding in that draw.

"We need a successful November to back up our performances at the World Cup in New Zealand and the Six Nations Grand Slam earlier this year, and we are determined to achieve it.’’ Wales will begin their preparations for the autumn with a week's training camp in Spala, Poland. Their opening autumn Test is against Argentina on November 10.

Wales squad for autumn Tests against Argentina, Samoa, New Zealand and Australia.

Scarlets' figure slightly inflated by circumstances but ,
overall, not too far off the mark. Means the Dragons can
concentrate on the Rabo without too many disruptions from
international call-ups. Lets hope they can take advantage of it.

Interesting breakdown of contributions to the Welsh Squad
Scarlets 11 31%
Ospreys 10 29%
Blues 8 23%
France 4 11%
England 1 03%
Dragons 1 03%
Scarlets' figure slightly inflated by circumstances but ,
overall, not too far off the mark. Means the Dragons can
concentrate on the Rabo without too many disruptions from
international call-ups. Lets hope they can take advantage of it.silurix